Tourette's Syndrome is a neurological disease that makes a person move in repetitive, involuntary movements called tics. The disease in named after the neurologist that discovered it, Dr. Georges Gilles de la Tourette, who diagnosed this disease in a 86 year old women in 1885.
TOURETTE'S TARGETS CERTAIN AREAS OF THE BRAIN. THIS PICTURE DISPLAYS THE CAUDATE NUCLEUS, THE PUTAMEN, THE GLOBUS PALLIDUS, AND THE ACCUMBENS NUCLEUS.
What are the symptoms?
There are two types of tics: simple and complex. Simple tics are sudden, brief, and use a very limited number of muscle groups. These simple tics are usually things like eye blinking or twitching, shoulder shrugging, or head and neck jerking. Complex tics are more pronounced involuntary movements, like facial grimacing combined with a head twist and a shoulder jerk. Some other complex tics include hopping, bending, twisting, and twitching. Some tics are so severe they cause the person to harm oneself. Some Tourette's victims randomly punch themselves. Another common symptom is the person with Tourette's will shout out obscenities and swear words.
SOMETIMES PEOPLE'S TOURETTES
ARE SO SEVERE, THEY UNDERGO A VERY DIFFICULT SURGERY THAT TRANSPLANTS ELECTRODES IN THEIR BRAIN.
How is Tourette's Syndrome inherited?
Tourette's is a genetic disease that is passed down from parent to offspring. It's not a sex-linked disease like hemophilia, people just have recessive genes for it. Nobody has been able to pinpoint the location and cause of Tourette's, but scientists have found that Tourette's are genetically linked to OCD (obessive compulsive disorder) and ADHD (attention deficient hyperactive disorder). Males usually show tics and ADHD symptoms, while females normally display OCD. The gene for Tourette's is located on chromosome 11.
How is Tourette's treated?
There is no universal antidote or medicine to Tourette's. Doctors and neurologists are only able to treat certain symptoms like tics, however the majority of people with tics do not need medication. If anything, they only have to take pills to treat ADHD or OCD.
THIS PICTURE ILLUSTRATES BRAIN TISSUE. NEUROLOGISTS HAVE DEVELOPED A WAY OF TAKING BRAIN ELECTRODES AD IMPLANTING THEM IN TOURETTE'S PATIENTS.
How often does Tourette's occur?
1 out of every 50 Americans have Tourette's Syndrome. Many of today's celebrities have Tourette's, like David Beckham, the soccer player and Dan Ackroyd, who starred in the movie Ghostbusters.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. Do you think people with Tourette's can easily do things like be on sports' teams or perform in plays? Remember that the severity of Tourette's can vary.
2. Can the new surgery implanting electrodes work? Do you think it can cure Tourette's or just make it more bearable for the more severe cases?
3. OCD and ADHD are genetically linked to Tourette's. Should all people with ADHD and OCD be checked for Tourette's?
Tourette's Syndrome
What is Tourette's Syndrome?
Tourette's Syndrome is a neurological disease that makes a person move in repetitive, involuntary movements called tics. The disease in named after the neurologist that discovered it, Dr. Georges Gilles de la Tourette, who diagnosed this disease in a 86 year old women in 1885.
What are the symptoms?
There are two types of tics: simple and complex. Simple tics are sudden, brief, and use a very limited number of muscle groups. These simple tics are usually things like eye blinking or twitching, shoulder shrugging, or head and neck jerking. Complex tics are more pronounced involuntary movements, like facial grimacing combined with a head twist and a shoulder jerk. Some other complex tics include hopping, bending, twisting, and twitching. Some tics are so severe they cause the person to harm oneself. Some Tourette's victims randomly punch themselves. Another common symptom is the person with Tourette's will shout out obscenities and swear words.
ARE SO SEVERE, THEY UNDERGO A VERY DIFFICULT SURGERY THAT TRANSPLANTS ELECTRODES IN THEIR BRAIN.
How is Tourette's Syndrome inherited?
Tourette's is a genetic disease that is passed down from parent to offspring. It's not a sex-linked disease like hemophilia, people just have recessive genes for it. Nobody has been able to pinpoint the location and cause of Tourette's, but scientists have found that Tourette's are genetically linked to OCD (obessive compulsive disorder) and ADHD (attention deficient hyperactive disorder). Males usually show tics and ADHD symptoms, while females normally display OCD. The gene for Tourette's is located on chromosome 11.
How is Tourette's treated?
There is no universal antidote or medicine to Tourette's. Doctors and neurologists are only able to treat certain symptoms like tics, however the majority of people with tics do not need medication. If anything, they only have to take pills to treat ADHD or OCD.How often does Tourette's occur?
1 out of every 50 Americans have Tourette's Syndrome. Many of today's celebrities have Tourette's, like David Beckham, the soccer player and Dan Ackroyd, who starred in the movie Ghostbusters.DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. Do you think people with Tourette's can easily do things like be on sports' teams or perform in plays? Remember that the severity of Tourette's can vary.
2. Can the new surgery implanting electrodes work? Do you think it can cure Tourette's or just make it more bearable for the more severe cases?
3. OCD and ADHD are genetically linked to Tourette's. Should all people with ADHD and OCD be checked for Tourette's?
WORKS CITED
1. www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/tourette/detail_tourette.html
2. www.tourettesyndrome.net
3. www.tourette13.tripod.com
4. www.tourette-syndrome.info/tsnf-genes.html
BY: EMMA GEORGE